The 44th APCC COCOTECH Meeting in Samui Island, Thailand

In line with APCC’s vision and mission, and pursuant to the endorsement of the XLVI APCC Session/Ministerial Meeting, the XLIV APCC COCOTECH Meeting (Permanent Panel on Coconut Technology) will be held at the Imperial Boat House Resort and Spa Hotel, Samui Island, Thailand on 5-9 July 2010. The Government of Thailand through the Ministry of Agriculture will provide the host facilities of the meeting.

As you may know, Samui Island is now becoming a major tourist destination near Bangkok. And to promote coconut eco-tourism, the Ministry of Tourism, Government of Thailand, is collaborating with the Ministry of Agriculture in hosting the 44th APCC COCOTECH Meeting.

The theme of the XLIV APCC COCOTECH Meeting 2010 will be on “New Technological Developments for a Sustainable and Competitive Coconut Industry”. This meeting will cover new technological developments on coconut production particularly planting and replanting systems, varietal improvement, use of selected local elite planting materials and hybrids, coconut-based farming systems, integrated pest and disease management, post harvest processing and technology updates in the manufacture of emerging coconut products for the domestic/export market, maximum utilization of energy efficient systems as well as cost effective technologies on integrated coconut processing, and marketing strategies. Issues and topics which are related to the global financial crisis, climate change as well as the carbon credit market will also be discussed in the Meeting.

Papers related to the theme will be presented by experts from the APCC member countries as well as international organizations, research institutions, and the private sector who are associated with the coconut industry. There will also be presentations by representatives from the private sector for product promotion and introduction of new processing technologies, equipment and machineries.  
This XLIV APCC COCOTECH Meeting and Coconut Festival 2010 will enable the gathering of different stakeholders of the coconut industry, like researchers, extensionists, government officials,  producers/farmers, processors, traders, importers and exporters and share latest developments in coconut technologies and discuss current issues related to the industry. In the Coconut Festival, potential buyers and sellers can meet and discuss about marketing and export of coconut products. Various coconut products from APCC member countries will be exhibited.

The meeting is open to public participation. We therefore encourage our National Liaison Officers in all APCC member countries to circulate the information about the 44th APPCC COCOTECH Meeting to all stakeholders in the coconut industry, especially those coming from the private sector.
For more information about the meeting please visit the APCC website at www.apccsec.org or send us an e-mail at apcc@indo.net.id.

There will be different categories for the registration fee. And “early bird discount” will be provided to those who will register as early as April 30, 2010. The registration fee will entitle the participants to all luncheons and morning and afternoon snacks during the 5-day Conference plus 3 dinners as indicated in the Programme. The registration fee will also cover participation in the field trip and electronic copies of conference materials.